Batik strip quilts

I worked on my friend's quilt today (the one we swapped out effort - she worked on my yard and in turn, I am going to finish this quilt for her). This pattern is by 3 Dudes. We found it at the Missouri Star Quilt Company website. They have some great free tutorials.

I think it turned out pretty cute. She needs to decide if she wants a small border and what she wants for the backing. I think if it were me I'd just bind it without a border. At 53 x 42 it is a good size for a toddler.

Then I scrounged up all my reject leftover batik 2 1/2 inch strips. I want to make a young friend a wedding present. This pattern is called Split Decision. My plan is to make up a bunch of the blocks and then decide which ones to keep in the quilt. I didn't have enough contrast brights, so the dark blue and red will probably not make it in the final quilt. I think I kind of like this quilt, especially for not having to buy anything to make it. It sews up really fast.

Her wedding is in April. I wanted to do this gift before I got started on the two baby quilts. The babies aren't due until June and July. I've got some time for those.

Nice day, and I even got in my 30 minute run. Working on my time. Today was 11:20 min/mi. Shaving off a little at a time.

 

Wild Turkeys

Take a look at these big boys!

I think it is mating season for them. They were guarding their girls and doing the loud "gobble, gobble!"

......in our back yard......in a subdivision that backs up to the woods.

 

Couch to 5k graduate

I completed all eight weeks of the training in seven weeks today! I ran for 30 minutes straight. My pace, at 11:30 min/mi was the best I've done. Now to get where running for thirty minutes is easy, and get faster.

I'm a happy girl! Can check this off on my "bucket list."

 

Proof

They finally posted the results of my first 5k, the Run for Dunn 2013.

So now I have documented proof that I did it. My official time was a bit better than my RunHelper app time. Guess those few seconds it took to start it and stop it added a little on the app. When I printed the results off, I saw that I was number 57 out of 81 people who participated. Most ran, there were only a few walkers.

I'll be graduating this week from my couch to 5k program, and I still have a several weeks to improve my time before the next 5k I am running. It will be May 4th. After my next two runs I'll be up to 30 minutes straight, then I'll focus on getting faster in those 30 minutes before I move to trying to run 3.1 miles without stopping. I'm guessing I'll need to be able to run at least 35 minutes with no walking.

 

Quick trip to Louisville

I made a quick run to Louisville this weekend. I don't get to see the kids very often. They have such busy lives and odd work shifts, they rarely get to come home. It was so good to see them, hear them laugh, and just to visit a bit.

We had a nice dinner out at the Longhorn restaurant.

I always get sad on the way home. I miss them so much. I need to just be thankful that I can text and chat with them often and even if I don't see them much, they know I love them dearly and hold them up in prayer all the time. Love you, my son and daughter-in-love!

 

Baby quilts

Got these sweet selections of fabric for two new baby quilts I need to make. The first is called Zoofari by Riley Blake. Hopefully it will at least blend with a nursery bedding set by Pottery Barn Kids called Organic Safari.

The next one is a mix. Some are from a line called Going Coastal. I am hoping it will blend with a Pottery Barn kids baby bedding set called Alligator Madras. I think I have two more pieces coming.

I've found that I enjoy ordering quilt fabric from Etsy. The prices aren't bad and there is a huge selection from various vendors.

Two of my husband's nieces are expecting boys in a few months. Now to settle on the patterns. I have some ideas. Stay tuned.

 

I did it!

I finished in 37:42 with an average pace of 11:56 min/mi. Barely met my goal. It was tough.

Jim came to cheer me on. Love him!

Then afterwards I got a call from my friend. I made her a proposition yesterday and she had decided to take me up on it. She does wonders with flowers and landscaping. She is trying to make her granddaughter a quilt but just can't seem to finish it. I told her if she would do my yard I'd finish her quilt.

So......after the 5k that about did me in, we want to lowes and got flowers, soil, pots, fertilizer, and pine straw and worked for about 3-4 hours in my front yard. She trimmed all the plants, pulled dead stuff out, planted lots and lots of pansies. Gave me direction on painting old pots black, spreading the pine straw, and general info on how to make things look better.

We even got a new spring flag and hanging ferns. It looks 100% better than it did. Wish I had some before shots.

 

First 5K March 16, 2013

I am a little nervous. I am going to look good even if I don't do good!

It will be it the high 40's in the morning at race time. I love running in my cold gear compression pants, even if it isn't very cold. It was about that temperature Thursday evening when I ran and I was very comfortable.

The goal is to finish it in less than 38 minutes. That is pretty slow to seasoned runners but for someone who could barely run one minute six weeks ago, I think it is a reasonable goal.

Wish me luck!

 

Healthy lunch

Waldorf salad, peanut butter and strawberry jam on homemade wheat bread, and chocolate soy milk. Sounds good to me.

Loafing around today and enjoying the nice spring weather. Dusted all the blinds and baseboards, Liquid Gold'd all the cabinets, Swiffered the floors, washed a quilt and changed out the one I hang in the foyer.....

Love days like this, just staying home and piddling around the house. Of course I've probably spent way too much time on Pinterest and google images.......

 

Strawberry Cake

Yum. The sunshine today put me in the mood for spring, so I made this strawberry cake.

It's good. I tested it.

Started week six of my couch to 5k training program. This is the best exercise program, I think I've ever done...not that I've ever really done anything besides walking. I am up to 8 minute runs. I am slow but hopefully after I get so I can run for thirty minutes straight, I can begin to work on my time. I feel like I am already getting the endorphin rush. I feel awesome when I finish.

I am hoping to start a new Remembrance quilt soon for a recent widow. If not, I'll have to get started on a new project. I have some thirties fabric I've never used, and some solid color bricks I'd like to use for a baby quilt. Thinking about trying to make up a few baby quilts for gifts.

Also doing some planning for more house projects. I have a "bucket list" of things I'd like to get done before I retire. My bucket list isn't places or things I want to do before I die, but projects around the house I want to do (and pay for) before my income drops in retirement.

 

C25K; Ease into 5k - Week 5 day 1

Brrrrr. Determined to do this. Chose the track for today's run.

It was snowing by the time I finished, but I did finish!

I bought some cold weather gear yesterday, but am not comfortable running in the compression tights just yet without something over them. In my mind I still feel like a runner wannabe, or is it modesty? Anyway, I pulled a pair of yoga pants over them and my lower body stayed toasty warm. The temp was a "feels like" 33. The head band worked great to keep my ears warm.

I found this great neoprene band to wear around the waist. It houses my iPhone, keys, and whatever else I want to take with me. Love it. The fleece jacket came off after the first 5 minute run.

Overall, I was very pleased. I did 2.64 miles with an average time of 13:44/mi. I am up to 18 minutes of interval running. I'm getting there.

 

Child Advocacy Center Quilt

Our quilting ministry at church is donating these small t-shirt quilts and fleece throws to the local Child Advocacy Center. I think we have about 27 throws and only about 4 t-shirt quilts. I am not surprised. The throws are so easy to make with no sewing; the t-shirt quilts take a whole lot more time and effort.

I picked up the colorful t-shirts at a local thrift store.

I used a cute flannel for the backing and binding that I bought at Walmart.

I had to machine stitch it sooo slow. I was afraid the needle would break on the printed designs. It slugged along. I hope this will make a little boy happy.

Ease into 5k

Finished up week three today! So far, so good, although the most I am running is only 3 minutes at a time. Week four will have me running for 4, 6, and 4 minutes between periods of walking. I managed a good pace today. The beautiful weather helped to motivate me.

 

A little this and a little that......

I pulled out my sour dough recipe the other day. Can you say yummy? The only negative about making it is, you have to plan for two days to mix, rise, shape, rise, and bake. It is worth it.

 

My son Elijah preached today. Very short visit home. Katie had to work so she didn't get to come with him. His message was so good! His dad and grandma came and they let me make their picture.

Got to give the puppy quilt to the little momma....

It was time to make more laundry detergent. I've gotten very fond of this stuff. I have been adding some citrus essential oils to it to give it a better scent. The recipe I use makes two gallons.

Passed my carry permit class yesterday. However I was a bit frustrated because they didn't count all my shots correctly, but it didn't matter. I qualified anyway.

And my last news is today I finished week 2 of my C25k program! Yippee! It was more difficult than it was on Friday. Not sure why. I know it is going to get harder and harder, so I am trying to prepare myself mentally not to give up, to keep at it, even if I have to repeat some weeks.

 

Finished Puppy Love

This has to be one of the cutest baby quilts I have ever made......

I used a very light gray thread to quilt it. Tried doing the machine binding but it just didn't work out. Ripped it out about three times before I finally gave in and hand stitched it down --- on the front. I used black thread for the hand work and you can't see the stitches at all.